Ferrari boss hails communication between drivers and race engineers. Ferrari boss hails communication between drivers and race engineers.

As a result of the unfortunate crash which took place at the first corner that immediately eliminated Charles Leclerc from the race, the entire focus of Ferrari for the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix was shifted to Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard, also taking advantage of the absence of many direct rivals, had a splendid race, finishing in fourth place on track. After the checkered flag came the promotion to third place due to the disqualification of the Aston Martin of Sebastian Vettel. During the race, the former McLaren driver was also the protagonist of a heated exchange of views via radio with his track engineer, regarding a possible early pit stop.

Carlos Sainz insisted on staying on track longer than originally planned, convincing the Maranello team of the effectiveness of his plan. A discussion that brought to light – as had already happened in the past – the greater collegiality with which strategic choices are made within the Ferrari team. A type of approach to the race that was claimed by the boss of the Maranello wall, Mattia Binotto. As reported by the Motorsportweek.com website, in fact, Mattia Binotto used the Carlos Sainz episode in Hungary as an emblem of good communication inside the red box. “This is our way of approaching the issue, having an open discussion on the radio – explained the Ferrari team principal – to make sure we reach the right conclusion”.

“I think we have always had good strategies – underlined Mattia Binotto – which have been applied not only thanks to the strategist, but also through the contribution of the drivers. They are the ones who drive the car and know the conditions along the track. I do not think it is an error of assessment – he concluded, in reference to the specific case – because the final call was made by the strategist. The driver suggested his impression, we reviewed our evaluations and concluded that it was the right choice. Overall, [I am] pleased [with] the way this communication is working. Once again this shows how the team is working correctly.” – Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto concluded.